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Religion and politics

Here's some news you might have missed in the holiday shuffle last week: Wiley Drake, pastor of the First Southern Baptist Church in Buena Park, Calif., and former vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention, has issued a press release calling for the end to an "imprecatory prayer" for President Barack Obama's death.

No, Drake was not overcome with the holiday spirit. Instead, he has received some "spiritual guidance" that made him realize Obama is worth more alive.

Though the community faces a financial crisis, much like the rest of the country, The Times asserts the town is also struggling because "its political system increasingly reflects the influence of evangelical churches."

When I picked up my Washington Post at the breakfast table this morning, the first thing I saw was a blaring headline reading, "Catholic Church gives D.C. ultimatum." All I could think was, "This ought to be good."

Just about six months ago, my colleague Sandhya Bathija posted about one man's trek from Mountain City, Tenn., to the nation's capital. Walking through the rain and snow with the hopes of convincing national lawmakers to "keep the Ten Commandments in our public buildings," Scott Teague arrived in Washington, D.C., on March 4.

There's nothing like a good, sweet ear of corn in the summertime, and according to the Web site of the city of Aumsville, Ore., "home of the Corn Festival," there's no place like Aumsville to "cruise-in for corn."

This weekend, for the first time since I have lived here, I found myself at a Washington-area Hindu temple.

That's because my parents were in town, and when my mom visits, it's on the top of her to-do list. So to satisfy my mother, and my religious quota for a while, I spent 10 to 15 minutes at a local temple.

I may not spend much time praying, but I still consider myself a Hindu and a follower of the faith. I don't need to listen to prayer all the time or have images of my faith displayed all around to know that.

Here are the rules: Read the two paragraphs below and decide for yourself whether they are quotes from a preacher or quotes from a politician. Scroll slowly and don't cheat!

"Reignite in people an understanding that the heart of your life is subordination to God! The heart of your life is seeking God's will, and that all of us are weak and vulnerable, all of us make mistakes, but that all are welcomed by a loving God.

President Barack Obama has named his new ambassador to the Holy See, and nominee Miguel H. Diaz has already announced his understanding of the job.

"If confirmed by the U.S. Senate," said Diaz in a statement. "I will continue the work of my predecessors and build upon 25 years of formal diplomatic relations with the Holy See. I wish to be a bridge between our nation and the Holy See."